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In the WordPress block editor, open your post or page, click Document Overview (the three horizontal lines at the top left), and choose Outline. The panel shows the current word count and updates as you add or remove text. WordPress.com labels the same control List View.
Check a draft’s word count in the block editor
- In your WordPress dashboard, open the post or page you are writing or editing.
- Click Document Overview at the top left of the editor. Its icon has three horizontal lines. On WordPress.com, this control is called List View.
- Select the Outline tab.
- Read the word count shown in the document-details panel.
The count changes automatically when text is added or removed. The official WordPress.org guide documents this location in its WordPress Block Editor documentation, while WordPress.com explains the equivalent panel in its Outline support guide.
Do not confuse List View with Outline
These tabs are next to each other but serve different purposes:
- List View: displays the blocks in the post or page, making it easier to select, reorder, or inspect them.
- Outline: displays document details, including the word and character counts, estimated reading time, paragraph and block totals, and the heading structure.
If the panel opens on List View, switch to Outline to see the count.
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What the Outline panel tells you
Word count is only one part of the editor’s document summary. The panel can also help you check:
- Character count
- Estimated reading time
- Number of paragraphs
- Number of blocks
- Heading hierarchy and document structure
This makes Outline useful for checking both a length requirement and whether headings are organized logically before publishing.
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Choose the right counting method
| Need | Where the count appears | Requirement | Who sees it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check a draft while editing | Document Overview (or List View) > Outline | Block editor | Editors and authors |
| Display a count on a published post or page | Time to Read block switched to its Word Count variation | WordPress 6.9 or later | Site visitors |
| Count text in custom software | @wordpress/wordcount package |
Developer implementation | Defined by the developer |
These are different uses rather than competing tools. The Outline panel is for writing and editing; the block adds a visible value to site content; the package is for code.
Show a word count to visitors with the Word Count block
WordPress 6.9 and later includes a Word Count variation of the Time to Read block. To add it:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Open the post or page editor.
- Place the cursor where the count should appear.
- Open the block inserter and search for Time to Read.
- Insert the block.
- Use the block toolbar or variation picker to change it to Word Count.
The variation displays the total words for the current post or page. See the official Time to Read block documentation for the current requirements and controls.
Important limitations of the public-facing count
WordPress notes that dynamically loaded content—such as shortcode output, external embeds, or content injected by plugins—may not be fully reflected in the Time to Read estimate. If the value appears stale, save or update the draft and check again. When using the block in a template, preview it against a specific post or page so it has the correct content context.
What about the Classic Editor?
The block editor has been WordPress’s default editor since version 5.0. WordPress.org says the Classic Editor remains available through the Classic Editor plugin, but the current official documentation does not establish a specific, reliable word-count location or status-bar behavior for that editor. If you use Classic Editor, do not assume the block-editor Outline path applies; check the editor interface provided by your installation or use another text-counting method.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Developer option: the WordPress word-count package
For custom plugins, themes, or other software, WordPress provides the @wordpress/wordcount package. Its utilities support counting words, characters excluding spaces, and characters including spaces. It is a developer API, not a control that ordinary writers need to open in the dashboard. Documentation is available in the WordPress Developer Resources reference.
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Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm that you opened Outline, not only List View.
- Save or update the draft, then reopen the document details if a displayed value seems out of date.
- For a Time to Read or Word Count block in a template, preview a specific post or page.
- Remember that shortcode, embed, and plugin-injected output may not be fully included in the public block’s estimate.
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